TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel consumption reduction system and method of
fuel consumption reduction, and more particularly to a fuel consumption reduction
system and method of fuel consumption reduction capable of improving the fuel economy
of an internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As an example of a method for improving the fuel economy (mileage) of an internal
combustion engine (engine), a method of improving fuel quality in which a porous ceramic
is placed in a fuel ionic active water tank has been proposed (for example, see reference
1).
[0003] A method for improving fuel quality and improving fuel economy by attaching a magnet
to an oil supply pipe or the like that supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine,
thereby to decompose fuel clusters has also been proposed (for example, see reference
2).
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0005] However, there are problems in these methods, such as a fuel economy improvement
rate of less than 10% due to the unstable rate of fuel consumption reduction, significant
increase in equipment costs, and obtaining no results of high efficiency.
[0006] In addition, a method for improving fuel based on the use of a catalyst such as platinum
has also been proposed. However, because the use of a catalyst makes it difficult
to maintain the cost, a demand exists for the development of a catalyst configured
from a comparatively inexpensive raw substance.
[0007] In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a fuel consumption reduction system and method of fuel consumption reduction capable
of stably improving fuel economy.
MEASURE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS
[0008] The fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention comprises an ionic
active water, ionic active water tank in which the ionic active water is held, and
steam supply means for supplying steam generated from the ionic active water to an
intake port of an internal combustion engine.
[0009] The ionic active water tank may further comprise an ionic active substance, the ionic
active water being produced by soaking the ionic active substance in water. The system
may preferably comprise heating means for heating the ionic active water to accelerate
the generation of steam.
[0010] The heating means may supply the heat of a muffler or a radiator to the ionic active
water to accelerate the generation of steam.
[0011] The heating means may comprise a heating device to which an electric power is supplied
to generate heat.
[0012] The fuel consumption reduction method of this embodiment is characterized by holding
ionic active water in an ionic active water tank, and supplying steam generated from
the ionic active water to an intake port of an internal combustion engine via a steam
feed pipe.
[0013] In the method, an ionic active substance may be placed in the ionic active water
tank, and the ionic active substance is soaked in water to produce ionic active water.
[0014] In the method, preferably the ionic active water is heated by heating means to accelerate
the generation of steam.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Using the present invention, the fuel economy of an internal combustion engine can
be improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016]
[FIG. 1] is a block diagram of one example of the configuration of the fuel consumption
reduction system of the present invention.
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS
[0017]
10 ... Ionic active water tank
11 ... Ionic active substance
12 ... Water feed pipe
13 ... Ionic active water
20 ... Steam generator
30 ... Internal combustion engine
31 ... Intake port
32 ... Air filter
40 ... Steam feed pipe
50 ... Heating device
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0018] The best mode for carrying out the fuel consumption reduction system and method of
fuel consumption reduction according to the present invention will be described hereinafter
with reference to the attached drawings.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one example of the configuration of the fuel consumption
reduction system of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the fuel consumption
reduction system shown comprises an ionic active water tank 10 in which ionic active
water is produced by soaking an ionic active substance in water, a steam generator
20 for generating steam from the ionic active water, and a steam feed pipe 40 for
leading the steam of the ionic active water to the vicinity of an air filter 32 of
an intake port 31 through which air is led to a combustion chamber (not shown in the
diagram) of an internal combustion engine 30.
[0020] An ionic active substance 11 for producing ionic active water is placed in the ionic
active water tank 10 which is provided with a water feed pipe 12 for feeding ionic
active water to the steam generator 20.
[0021] As the ionic active substance 11, substances that facilitate the formation of ionic
active water from water including organic ceramics such as tourmaline, titanium oxide
and rice bran ceramic, and mineral ceramics, can be employed, the ionic active substance
being placed in the ionic active water tank in a weight ratio of the water and active
substance of 10 - 30 : 1.
[0022] In addition, the active substance placed in the ionic active water tank is preferably
selected in accordance with the fuel of the internal combustion engine. For example,
tourmaline is employed as the active substance when the fuel in use is gasoline, and
rice bran ceramic is employed as the active substance if the fuel in use is gas oil.
[0023] The ionic active water 13 is produced in the ionic active water tank 10 as a result
of the soaking the ionic active substance 11 in water that has been poured though
an inlet port not shown in the diagram, the produced ionic active water 13 being fed
to the steam generator 20 via the feed water pipe 12.
[0024] The steam generator 20A is provided with a steam feed pipe 40 for feeding steam,
and is placed in contact with the heating device 50.
[0025] As the heating device 50, any device, such as a radiator for cooling the internal
combustion engine or a muffler through which exhaust gases generated by the internal
combustion engine are discharged, capable of supplying heat to the steam generator
20 in an amount that accelerates the generation of steam may be employed. Also, a
heating device that does not utilize the heat emitted from the internal combustion
engine but instead creates a new heat such as a heating device that generates heat
by supplying an electric power from a battery to a heating wire may be employed.
[0026] The steam generator 20 utilizes the heat from the heating device 50 to accelerate
the generation of steam from the ionic active water 13.
[0027] In the fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention that employs the
configuration described above, an ionic active water is produced in an ionic active
water tank, the ionic active water is evaporated in a steam generator to form steam,
and the steam is fed to the intake port of an internal combustion engine via a steam
feed pipe.
[0028] The steam of the ionic active water that is fed to the vicinity of an intake port
and, passing through an air filter, is introduced to the combustion chamber of the
internal combustion engine, is thought to assist fuel combustion.
[0029] While, as described above, the ionic active water is produced by soaking an ionic
active substance in water in an ionic active water tank, an ionic active water may
be poured into the ionic active water tank and the steam generated from this ionic
active water, or water produced as a result of reaction with an MgCa compound may
be employed as the ionic active water.
[0030] The embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described in further
detail.
EMBODIMENT 1
[0031] The fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention was mounted on a 1300cc
gasoline engine vehicle, 10 liters of tap water to which no active substance had been
added was introduced to the ionic active water tank and, while the steam of this tap
water was being supplied to the internal combustion engine, the vehicle was driven
along urban roads and the fuel consumption thereof was measured. Table 1 shows the
measured results thereof.
EMBODIMENT 2
[0032] The fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention was mounted on a 1300cc
gasoline engine vehicle, 10 liters of tap water to which no active substance had been
added was introduced to the ionic active water tank and, while the steam of this tap
water was being supplied to the internal combustion engine, the vehicle was driven
for 2/3 of the process along an expressway and the fuel consumption thereof was measured.
Table 1 shows the measured results thereof.
EMBODIMENT 3
[0033] The fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention was mounted on a 1300cc
gasoline engine vehicle, 1kg of tourmaline (active substance) and 10 liters of tap
water were introduced to the ionic active water tank and, while the steam of this
ionic active water was being supplied to the internal combustion engine, the vehicle
was driven along urban roads and the fuel consumption thereof was measured. Table
1 shows the measured results thereof.
EMBODIMENT 4
[0034] The fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention was mounted on a 1300cc
gasoline engine vehicle, 1kg of tourmaline (active substance) and 10 liters of tap
water were introduced to the ionic active water tank and, while the steam of this
ionic active water was being supplied to the internal combustion engine, the vehicle
was driven for 2/3 of the process along an expressway and the fuel consumption thereof
was measured. Table 1 shows the measured results thereof.
[Table 1]
|
Water type |
Distance traveled (km) |
Fuel consumption (liter) |
Fuel economy (km/liter) |
Embodiment 1 |
Tap water |
340 |
35.58 |
9.8 |
Embodiment 2 |
Tap water |
409 |
30.24 |
13.52 |
Embodiment 3 |
Ionic active water |
459 |
36.15 |
12.69 |
Embodiment 4 |
Ionic active water |
420 |
21.5 |
19.53 |
[0035] It is apparent from the measured results of Table 1 that, based on a comparison of
Embodiments 1 and 3 in which the vehicles were driven along urban roads and Embodiments
2 and 4 in which the vehicles were driven for 2/3 of the process along an expressway,
fuel economy is improved as a result of the supply of steam of the ionic active water
to the internal combustion engine.
[0036] In a comparison of Embodiments 1 and 3, the improvement is:

while in a comparison of Embodiments 2 and 4 the improvement is:

and,
even assuming a measurement error of 5%, the fuel consumption can be reduced by at
least 20%.
EMBODIMENT 5
[0037] A 2-ton diesel engine vehicle on which the fuel consumption reduction system of the
present invention was not mounted was driven and the fuel consumption thereof was
measured. Table 2 shows the measured results thereof.
EMBODIMENT 6
[0038] The fuel consumption reduction system of the present invention was mounted on a vehicle
with a 2-ton diesel engine vehicle, 1kg of rice bran ceramic (active substance) and
10 liters of tap water were introduced to the ionic active water tank and, while the
steam of the ionic active water was being supplied to the internal combustion engine,
the vehicle was driven and the fuel consumption thereof was measured. Table 2 shows
the measured results thereof.
[Table 2]
|
|
Distance traveled (km) |
Fuel consumption (liter) |
Fuel economy (km/liter) |
Embodiment 5 |
No system mounted |
351.2 |
38.8 |
9.1 |
Embodiment 6 |
System mounted |
292 |
25.4 |
11.5 |
[0039] It is apparent from the measured results of Table 2 that the fuel economy is improved
as a result of the supply of steam of the ionic active water to the internal combustion
engine.
[0040] In a comparison of Embodiments 5 and 6, the improvement is:

and,
even assuming a measurement error of 5%, the fuel consumption can be reduced by at
least 20%.
[0041] In this way, the fuel consumption and the fuel economy of an internal combustion
engine can be improved using the present invention.
[0042] In addition, because the fuel is thought to be completely combusted, the present
invention is considered to significantly reduce the toxic components in the exhaust
gases.
[0043] In addition, because the structure of the present invention is simple and does not
use any chemicals or the like at all, it is advantageous from the viewpoint of both
economics and a lowering of the burden on the environment.
1. A fuel consumption reduction system, comprising:
ionic active water;
an ionic active water tank that holds the ionic active water; and
steam supply means for supplying steam generated from the ionic active water to an
intake port of an internal combustion engine.
2. The fuel consumption reduction system according to claim 1, wherein the ionic active
water tank is provided with an ionic active substance, and
the ionic active water is produced by soaking the ionic active substance in water.
3. The fuel consumption reduction system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further
comprising heating means for heating the ionic active water to accelerate generation
of steam.
4. The fuel consumption reduction system according to claim 3, wherein the heating means
supplies heat of a muffler or radiator to the ionic active water to accelerate the
generation of the steam.
5. The fuel consumption reduction system according to claim 3, wherein the heating means
comprises a heating device that generates heat by an electric power supplying thereto.
6. A method of fuel consumption reduction, comprising:
holding ionic active water in an ionic active water tank; and
supplying steam generated from the ionic active water to an intake port of an internal
combustion engine via a steam feed pipe.
7. The method of fuel consumption reduction according to claim 6, further comprising:
placing an ionic active substance in the ionic active water tank; and
soaking the ionic active substance in water, thereby to produce the ionic active water.
8. The method of fuel consumption reduction according to any one of claims 6 and 7, further
comprising:
heating the ionic active water using heating means to accelerate generation of steam.